First International Conference on Maritime & Marine Crime Investigations: Forensics at Sea

About Conference:

The First International Conference on Maritime & Marine Crime Investigations: Forensics at Sea, is being organized by the International Institute for Forensic & Security Studies, India, from Friday-11th February 2022 to Sunday-13th February 2022 in complete Online mode.

This Conference would see Speakers from all around the world, having an expertise in Maritime & Marine Crime Investigations, Maritime & Marine/Underwater Forensic Analysis & Underwater Crime Scene Investigation, Maritime or Marine Accidents/Disaster Investigation, and, Maritime & Marine Security.

Maritime and Marine words have very often been used hand in hand, overlapping with each other a lot of times, basically including everything that has to do with the Water world around us; both water surface and underwater. Maritime Crime involves threats to human life at sea, and financial loss casued to merchant/other ships, and related businesses/commercial/trade activities. From human tracfficking and illegal entry via sea route to smuggling of drugs/firearms/other items and armed robberies, from marine accidents, ship wrecks, and oil spills to fire incidents at sea, from terrorist activties, transnational/international crimes to piracy at sea, all fall under the domain of Maritime Crimes. On the other hand, Marine Crime includes criminal activities related to all of kinds of marine life; marine mammals, fishes, coral reefs, underwater plants/vegetation, etc., and the marine environment, caused from pollution / environmental hazards, illegal fishing / killing and selling of endangered / protected / exotic species of marine animals & plants, exploitation of deep sea resources and man-made or artificial disasters causing loss of marine life.

Marine Crimes fall under the broader domain of Environmental Crimes and a lot of times under the sub-domain of Wildlife Crimes, and is dealt/investigated by Marine Police, Marine/Environmental Scientists, Marine Biologists, Conservation Experts, Environmental/Wildlife Forensic Experts, Professional Divers, Underwater Crime Scene Experts, and so on, whereas, Maritime Crime Investigation and Security are managed by a Country's Defense Personnel/Navy, National/State Coast Guards, Marine Corps, Customs & Immigration Department, Marine Accident Investigators, Disaster Management Authorities, and other such agencies.

The importance of marine life & maritime borders is indicated from the fact that about 71% of of the entire Earth is covered by Water and our Oceans and Seas contribute to approximately 97% of it all [1]. Water is not only important for life/survival on Earth but Oceans and Marine life also help in maintaining natural ecological balance on the planet. Since ancient times until today water ways have also been very widely used as a means of overseas travel and trade activities, thereby giving rise to related criminal activities. Therefore it has become imperative to acknowledge the importance of crime and forensic investigation in such a globally important but less explored area.

The objective of this Conference is to provide a Comprehensive Global Forum for experts and participants from academia, law enforcement, defense, customs/immigration, disaster management, fisheries & oceans deptt, climate change & environment protection agencies, pollution control boards, merchant navy, international & homeland security, marine/environmental/wildlife/forensic sciences and various other scientific/non-scientific fields to share knowedge and exchange ideas about the past, pesent and future scenario in the area of Maritime & Marine Crime Investigations; including but not limited to forensic analysis, issues faced by law enforcement agencies and involved marine & maritime experts in successful crime investigation, and newer & upcoming means of investigations & security technologies.

This 03-days long Conference will offer the particpants an opportunity to learn from Invited Talks, Keynote Speeches, Panel Disussion, Interview and Workshop; to be delivered by highly honored and widely acclaimed experts from around the globe, attend to Scientific / Research / Patent / Technical Presentations [Oral/Poster], and indulge in Q&A sessions and exchange of knowledge/experiences/ideas with our world renowned speakers.

Please Download Draft Agenda for Virtual participation available on this page for more information [Use 'Download File' link below].

Kindy Note: The 'Workshop on Underwater Forensics' would now be conducted in 'Virtual' mode only, and is 'Open to Limited Participants'. 'Separate Certificate' would be provided to workshop attendees. Please reach out to us via email to: info@iifs-studies.in with a copy marked to iifss.india@gmail.com should you wish to attend this workshop. For all attending online conference, workhop fee is included in applicable conference registration fee. No separate registration is required from those attending full conference. 

This Conference would also be followed by IIFSS's First International Working Group Meeting on Maritime & Marine Crime Investigations [open exclusively to working group members only], to be held On-Ground in the Republic of Maldives.

So, if you are really willing to soak yourselves in some hardcore scientific education and knowledge about investgations in the water world, please go ahead and register yourselves for this one of a kind, very unique international conference.

For Virtual Participation:

This Conference is Free for 'Virtual' attendance for Full Time Students / Researchers

Although other Working/Non-Working/Retired Professionals are required to pay a very nominal Fee for Virtual participation. Virtual Participation Fee remains the same for all participants from within & outside India. See details below.

A. Current Full Time Students / Researchers – Free

B. Members of IIFSS / Conference Committee Members / IIFSS Staff / Working Group Members / Conference Speakers / Conference Partners* & Sponsors* – Free

C. Academicians / Scientists / Government Employees / Non-Profit Institutions / NGOs – INR 3000/- [Indian Rupees Three Thousand only]

D.  Private Companies / Organizations / Associations / Vendors / Other Professionals – INR 6000/- [Indian Rupees Six Thousand only]

E. Separate Fee for Participation in 'Virtual Workshop on Underwater Forensics' [applicable to those willing to exclusively participate in the Workshop (only) & not the rest of the Conference] - USD 50.00 [US Dollars Fifty or its equivalent in Indian Rupees] only.

This includes all categories; students, academicians, scientists, government or non-government professionals, international/national participants, staff & members of IIFSS, speakers, partners, sponsors, etc. All Paid Online Conference Registrants 'DO NOT' need to pay any separate fee towards this workshop. The conference & workshop is now entirely Free for current full time students.

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Important Deadlines:

Deadline for Students / Researchers to Enrol for Free Virtual Conference – No Fee Payment required:  Monday-January 31, 2022 [Early registration recommended as free spots are limited].

Deadline for Working / Retired / Non-Working Professionals, Companies, Vendors, or Others to Enrol / Register for Virtual Conference along with Full Fee Payment: Monday-January 31, 2022.

Deadline for All to Enrol for 'Online Workshop on Underwater Forensics' along with Prescribed Fee Payment: Monday-January 31, 2022.

Kindly Note**: Special Fee amount may be offered and applicable to large number / group of participants from any particular organization/institution/company willing to attend this virtual conference.

To 'Enrol for Virtual Participation', potential Virtual Attendees need to go to 'Enrol Now' tab on this page and Register themselves. It is mandatory to duly complete the Online Enrolment Form and attach Proof of category you are enrolling under [Valid Student ID / Employee ID]. Incomplete Forms or without required details/attachments would not be accepted and may be liable for rejection.

Virtual Participation is Open to a maximum of 500 attendees, subject to registration deadlines (stated above). Fee Submission details would be shared (via email) after receiving duly completed Online Enrolment Form & attachments. Enrolments would only be confirmed after full Fee payment is received by IIFSS, India.

For Poster/Oral/Research Presentations:

We are also cordially inviting Abstract submissions from those interested in making a Poster/Oral presentation at this global conference. There is No Fee required for Abstract Submission or participating in Poster/Oral Presentation. Selected Abstracts would be informed via email by our office and would automatically enter into the 'Best Poster/Oral Presentation Competition' being organized by IIFSS, India parallel to this Conference. See 'Draft Agenda' available for download on this page (Click on 'Download File' link below) for tentative schedule of Poster / Oral Presentations [Draft Agenda may be subject to changes]. Full Article Submissions are also welcome from those willing to submit full articles related to their presentation in our Conference Souvenir/Proceedings & Abstracts E-Book. 'Call for Abstracts / Abstract Submission Guidelines towards Poster/Oral Presentations & Full Article Submission' is Now available for download from the 'Bulletin Board' on our website's homepage (see: www.iifs-studies.in).

Deadline for Abstract Submission is: Monday-January 31, 2022.

For Technical/Company Presentations:   

Companies/Vendors interested in presenting their products & company at the conference during one of the online technical presentation sessions, please reach out to us via email to director@iifs-studies.in.

For Scientific Invention/Patent Presentations:

Scientists / Researchers interested in presenting their inventions / registered patents at the conference during one of the online scientific presentation sessions, please reach out to us via email to director@iifs-studies.in.

For Invited Speakers:

Participation as a Speaker at the Conference is by Invitation only! Please reach out to us via email to: director@iifs-studies.in in case you wish to deliver a talk at the conference [subject to availability of time slots].

Kindly note that there is No Speaker Registration Fee being charged from Invited Speakers for this Conference.

There is also 'NO Conference Registration Fee' for Invited Speakers*** of the Conference willing to attend the entire conference Online.

The current list of Speakers & Title of Talks is available for download on this page. Kindly refer Draft Agenda for the same.

For Conference Partners/Sponsors/Advertisers: Those interested in becoming conference partners and/or sponsors, and/or those willing to advertise in the conference souvenir / conference proceedings & abstracts e-book, including companies interested in presenting their products at this online international conference and needing available slots for technical presentations are welcome to reach out to the conference committee at info@iifs-studies.in or iifss.india@gmail.com

Please keep checking this webpage from time to time for conference updates!

We keenly look forward to your registrations and having you with us at this globally important virtual conference!

Happy Conferencing!

[1]https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/how-much-water-there-earth?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

* In case of Conference Partners & Sponsors: Limited number of staff/members may be allowed 'Free' participation in the Online Conference from the partnering/sponsoring organization/institution/company. Special Fee may be applicable for any Additional Members.

** Amount charged may vary according to total number of group participants, type of organization/institution/company (government/non-government) & country (India/International).

*** Invited Speakers eligible for 'NO CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE' include those coming for Poster/Oral/Research Presentations, Technical/Company Presentations, Scientific Invention/Patent Presentations and Members of Panel Discussion.

Kindly Note: All Conference Participation Fee, Event Sponsorship, Workshop Fee, and Conference Advertisement Charges once paid to IIFSS, India remains non-refundable unless in event of any exceptional cases (e.g., medical emergencies; COVID-19 or other serious health issues, or, complete cancellation of event from our end). This office would not be able to entertain any requests for refunds due to any other reasons what so ever.